U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki provides weekly notarial service. U.S. Embassy Athens provides all other regular consular services including U.S. passports, notarials, and reports of birth and death abroad.

Periodically, Embassy Athens’ consular staff provide regular consular services in Thessaloniki. Please check the U.S. Embassy in Athens’ website for information on the next scheduled visit.

Greece is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Greece without a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen fact sheet.

For entry into Greece, your passport should have at least six months of remaining validity.

A U.S. citizen traveling on a passport that has been previously reported lost or stolen will not be allowed entry in Greece. This decision is the purview of the Greek immigration authorities; the U.S. Embassy cannot intervene.

You must arrive in country with proof of sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.

U.S. official and diplomatic passport holders must obtain a Schengen visa prior to arrival. If you are traveling on a U.S. official or diplomatic passport, you will not be allowed to enter Greece without a visa.

If you are a U.S. citizen born in the Republic of Macedonia, your U.S. passport should be recognized as a valid travel document. However, be aware:

Greek Immigration officers at ports of entry (land, air, and sea) will not place entry stamps in a passport listing the traveler’s place of birth as Macedonia or the Republic of Macedonia.

You will be asked to complete a short form on which the entry stamp will be placed.

Keep the form with your passport while you are in Greece and present it upon departure. If you lose the form, you must visit a police station and file a report before the Greek authorities will permit you to depart the country.

HIV/AIDS RESTRICTIONS: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Greece.

Transportation sector strikes interrupt traffic, public transportation, taxis, seaports, and airports. Reconfirm domestic and international flights before heading to the airport.

Avoid all areas affected by the annual November 17 demonstrations, including the U.S. Embassy.

Anarchists and criminals have used university campuses as refuges. Demonstrators frequently congregate in the Polytechnic University area, Exarchia, Omonia, and Syntagma Squares in Athens; and at Aristotle Square, Aristotle University, and the Kamara area in Thessaloniki.

Violent anarchist groups have joined public demonstrations to clash with police and vandalize public and private property.

Crime: Crimes against tourists, such as pick-pocketing and purse-snatching, occur at popular tourist sites, on public transportation (especially the Metro) and in Thessaloniki shopping areas. Thieves break into cars to steal passports and rifle through luggage in search of valuables. The Embassy has received reports of alcohol-induced attacks targeting individual tourists at some holiday resorts and bars; one incident was fatal.

Take the following precautions:

Be cautious and aware of your surroundings.

Use alcohol in moderation and remain in control.

Be discreet when discussing plans and organizing belongings upon arrival.

Do not leave bags unattended, especially on the Metro and the Athens Airport train or in your vehicle.

Avoid standing near bus or train doors. Thieves often strike as the doors open then disappear into the crowd.

Never leave drinks unattended in bars or clubs.

Protect yourself and your money by using well-lit, public ATMs.

Be aware of internet scams with online thieves posing as loved ones or romantic interests.

Victims of Crime: Report crime to the local police and contact the U.S. Embassy at (+30) 210-720-2414 or the Emergency after-hours telephone (+30) 210-729-4444 if you require assistance. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes.

Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in certain cases of destitution

Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home in certain cases of destitution

Replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.

Tremors and earthquakes occur regularly. Please see the Greek government”s earthquake-safety pamphlet for tourists and visitors. Forest fires are common, especially during the dry summer months, and occasionally cause road closures. In the event of a natural disaster, follow the instructions of local authorities. Contact the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, which responds to emergencies, at 210-335-9900 for more information. Operators speak English. Monitor the U.S. Embassy Athens’ website and Consular Facebook page.

Call us in Washington at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Possession of a U.S. passport will not prevent you from being arrested, prosecuted, or jailed.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Marijuana is illegal in Greece.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could land you immediately in jail.

Photographing military installations is prohibited and may lead to arrest.

Mace or pepper-spray canisters are illegal in Greece. Such items will be confiscated, and police may arrest or detain you.

Carry your passport or some form of photo identification at all times. Police may detain you for questioning if you do not have proper identification with you.

Greek Antiquities: Customs authorities strictly regulate the export of Greek antiquities, including rocks from archaeology sites. Do not remove anything, no matter how small, from archaeological or historical sites. Do not purchase protected antiquities and carry a receipt for any purchases.

Military Service for Dual Nationals:

Greek males between 19 and 45 are required to perform military service.

If the Greek government considers you to be a Greek citizen, you may be required to fulfill this obligation whether or not you consider yourself Greek or possess a U.S. or third country’s passport.

Generally, required military service will not affect your U.S. citizenship, but contact U.S. Embassy Athens if you have questions.

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Greece. LGBTI individuals in Greece are protected by anti-discrimination laws, and gender identity is among the grounds covered by laws against hate speech; however, non-governmental organizations report that social discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is widespread in Greece.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: While Greek law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical or intellectual disabilities and local law requires access to buildings, sidewalks, and public transportation, application and enforcement of these laws is lacking.

Handicapped parking spaces and sidewalk ramps are often occupied or blocked by parked vehicles.

Sidewalks often are narrow with broken paving stones and large holes and obstructed by trees and street signs.

Buildings with ramps might lack accessible elevators or bathrooms.

A small percentage of public buildings (primarily in Athens) have full accessibility. Some buildings and intersections include accommodations for visually-impaired travelers.

The Athens Metro and Athens International Airport are fully accessible with ramps and elevators.

Most public medical facilities in Greece offer adequate care, although service quality and hospital appearance may differ from the United States. Some private hospitals have affiliations with U.S. facilities and provide high-quality care. Many doctors trained in the United States or elsewhere in Europe.

Private hospitals usually require proof of adequate insurance or cash before admitting a patient. Patients bear all costs for transfer to or between hospitals.

Public hospitals often employ minimal nursing staff overnight and on weekends in non-emergency wards. Consider hiring a private nurse or having family spend the night with the patient, especially a minor child.

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Greek Embassy or consulate in the United States, the Customs office at Athens International Airport (+30 210-3542126) or the National Organization of Medicines (relation@eof.gr, www.eof.gr, +30 213-204-0000) to ensure the medication is legal in Greece. Always, carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Road Conditions and Safety:Greece has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the European Union. Exercise extreme caution as both a driver and a pedestrian, and follow these tips:

Drive defensively.

Expect heavy traffic, obscured traffic signs, and vehicles traveling at high speeds. Driving at night, in inclement weather, and on mountain roads can be hazardous.

Local law requires all motorcyclists to wear a helmet.

Check for motorbikes between lanes and on either side of you.

Do not rely on lane markings. On many two-lane highways, slower traffic will drive on the shoulder, and cars will pass straddling the center double-yellow line.

Review your insurance coverage before renting. Most insurance companies require that you have both your valid U.S. license and an international driver’s permit (IDP) for coverage in Greece. Small motorbike and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rental firms frequently carry no insurance and require customers to cover the cost of all damages to their vehicles. Your insurance company may not cover two-wheel or ATV rentals.

Traffic Laws:

Talking or texting on a mobile phone while driving is illegal. The police check phone records when investigating accidents.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugsis illegal, and police conduct random alcohol testing.

You must carry a valid U.S. license and an international driver’s permit (IDP), even if the rental company does not request to see your IDP. If you drive without one of these documents, you may face high fines or be responsible for all expenses in the event of an accident. Obtain your IDP before departing the United States from the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA).

Public Transportation: Make sure you purchase and validate your ticket by touching it to the pad on the turnstile prior to boarding a bus or train. Inspectors randomly board public transportation to check for tickets. If you have no ticket, the wrong ticket, or failed to validate your ticket, you could be fined up to 60 times the basic fare.

Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Greece’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

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